Carton



w. s. DREWRY Dec. 5, 1933.

CARTON Original Filed May 15, 1951 W. $.Drewry Patented Dec. 5, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application May 13, 1931, Serial No. 537,113 Renewed September 12, 1933 1 Claim.

The invention relates to improvements in cartons such as egg, bottle and other produce cartons and an object of the invention is to provide a carton having a handle for carrying purposes,

the handle amply supporting the closed carton and being very convenient for carrying the carton from place to place.

A further object is to arrange the construction so that the weight of the filled carton is efl'ectively l0 distributed thereby avoiding any possibility of breakage and further so that the handle can be integrally formed with the carton and readily brought to its operating position in the closing of the carton and also to arrange the parts such that 16 when the carton is closed and the handle in carrying position, the carton will not open under the weight of the produce.

With the above more important and other minor objects in view, the invention consists essentially in-the arrangement and construction of parts hereinafter more particularly described. reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which:- I

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an egg carrying 26 carton, the cover thereof being shown in the open position.

Fig. 2 is a view similarto Figure 1 with the cover in the closed position.

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross sectional view at 3-3 Figure 2.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a bottle carton with the cover in the open position.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a bottle carton with the cover in the closed position. I

In the drawing like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures. As is usual, the carton which I have made for carrying produce such as eggs is formed from a comparatively light cardboard blank which is cut to the required shape and then folded to form the carton.

The body of the egg carton presents the usual bottom 1, upstanding sides 2 and 3 and upstanding ends 4 and 5. The end 5 according to my invention is supplied with an extension forming a cover 6, it being understood that the cover is folded down to close the top of the carton.

The cover of the carton is provided with a tapering end flap 7 having pointed locking tongues 8 and 9 at its sides, these being adapted to enter vertical slots 10 and 11 in the end 4 of the carton to releasably lock the cover in its closed position. Both ends of the carton are attached to the sides thereof by corner flaps 12 also 56 fitted with tongues 13 adapted to enter horizontal slots 14 in the sides of the cartonin the same manner as those before described. The sides of the carton are provided with inturned closure flaps 15 and 16 which have their inner edges virtually meeting centrally and longitudinally of the carton.

Each of the latter flaps carries on its inner edge and centrally of the length thereof, a handle forming section 17 of a semicircular shape, the handle section being integrally formed with the flap. These handle sections in their up turned position lie side by side and are adapted to pass through a longitudinally extending slot 18 formed in the cover part 6.

As before intimated, the complete carton is cut from a blank sheet of cardboard to the required shape and is then folded to form the carton. Obviously when the cover 6 and the flaps 15 and 16 are swung back, the produce can be placed in the carton. I have indicated a rack at 19 in the carton of the usual type for receiving and spacing v eggs.

Upon the carton being filled with produce, the flaps 15 and 16 are brought to closed position over the rack and the cover is then closed down and 8 fastened by the tongues 8 and 9 and at such time, the handle sections are passed through the slot 18, the closed carton then appearing as shown in Figure 2. Obviously the handle formed by the handle sections provides a very convenient means for carrying the carton and it will be here observed that the weight of the loaded carton is amply distributed to the carton body so that there is no fear of collapse or breakage.

In Figures 4 and 5, I have shown a modification of my invention wherein a bottle carton is provided with the special handle feature. These types of cartons are made from a heavier cardboard known as corrugated or ribbed board and the body 20 of the carton is provided at the top with inturned flaps 21 and 22 similar to those 15 and 16 and with a cover flap 23 similar to that 6. The flaps 21 and 22 carry handle sections 24 and 25 which. extend upwardly through a central slot 26 formed in the cover flap. The cover flap after being closed can be sealed closed by a gummed strip ifdesired.

' I have found, however, that by cutting the flaps 21 and 22, short enough to provide in the closed position of such flaps, a slot or crack 27 between the ends of the flaps and the side of the carton and by supplyin the end of the cover flap with a tongue 28, the cover flap will remain elfectively closed if one pass the tongue 28 into the slot 27 as he is closing the cover flap. A certain amount of friction will be permitted between the tongue and the sides ofthe slot.

Once this cover is closed, it has no tendency to open when the produce is being carried and in connection with both cartons, it will be noted that the fingers pass through the open centre of the handle and immediately overlie the cover flap.

While I have described the invention as embodied in an egg carton and a bottle carton, it will be readily understood that it can be utilized in any other type of carton or box as a convenience for carrying the same. Further while I have shown the handle sections as integrally formed with the flaps, I wish it to be understood that they might be cut from separate pieces of cardboard and attached to the flaps in the proper locations by utilizing a gummed strip of the well known kind for the purpose.

What I claim as my invention is:

A carton having the side walls thereof provided at their upper edges with similar inwardly foldable closure flaps, the said flaps virtually meeting centrally of the carton and being provided centrally of their inner edges with up turned mating handle forming sections and one of the end walls thereof provided with a cover flap adapted to close over the closed closure flaps and provided with a longitudinal slot through which the handle sections protrude and having the other end detachably connected to the opposite end of the carton.

' WILLIAM S. DREWRY. 

